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Kairos Power

Director, Power Generation System

Alameda, CA

Company Overview

Kairos Power is a new nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy, with the ultimate goal to dramatically improve people’s quality of life while protecting the environment. This goal will be accomplished through the commercialization of the fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (FHR) that can be deployed with robust safety, affordable costs, and flexible operation to accommodate the expansion of variable renewables.

Job Summary

This role will report to Chief Technology Officer and leads the design activities for the Kairos Power FHR (KP-FHR) Power Generation System. Provides design leadership and technical oversight for the development for the Systems, Structures, and Components (SSC) comprising the KP-FHR Power Generation System, including the Heat Rejection Radiator, Heat Exchangers/Steam Generators (Salt-to-Air, Salt-to-Salt, and Salt-to-Steam), and Salt/Air/Steam Piping. Develops technical, design solutions to enable the rapid development and integration of KP-FHR Power Generation System SSCs and the deployment, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning of these SSCs to meet customer, regulatory, and other key stakeholder requirements.  Leads the development of technical specifications and coordinates with key suppliers and strategic partners, as necessary, for the development and delivery of SSCs necessary for the successful implementation of the KP-FHR Power Generation System.

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Responsibilities

  • Lead the design, development, and integration of the KP-FHR Power Generation System SSCs and the deployment of these SSCs as part of the overall KP-FHR plant.
  • Ensure design is compliant to customer, regulatory, and other key stakeholder requirements.
  • Support Project Management and Engineering Integration in generating design and development plans (schedules, milestones, cost models, decision criteria, etc.) for the Power Generation System that meet Kairos Power’s FHR deployment objectives
  • Lead design trade and optimization studies.
  • Review design artifacts for technical quality (accuracy and adequacy), and ensure designs meet schedule, performance, and cost requirements and targets.
  • Engage with external suppliers, partners, customers, regulators, and other key stakeholders, as necessary, to support the design and development activities.
  • Coordinate with the Test Program and Model and Simulation Program leadership to ensure that required testing, codes, analysis, etc. are available and conducted as necessary to support the design and development activities of the Heat Transport System.
  • Lead personnel who conduct design activities for the Power Generation System SSCs.
  • Provide the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the Engineers for the Power Generation System.
  • Interview, hire, and train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; address complaints, and resolve problems.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering or related field required.
  • Master of Science degree in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering or related field desired.
  • Must have proven track record of design leadership and delivery with at least 10 years implementation experience and previous supervisory/management experience.
  • Experience in designing to ASME B&PVC code requirements, including experience with Section VIII, is highly desired.
  • Experience with highly regulated industries and with the deployment of large, complex, industrial products preferred.
  • Experience with projects that include hardware delivery.
  • Experience with thermodynamics, power cycle theory and optimization, heat transfer basics and heat exchanger development. 
  • Significant experience in nuclear system design or complex industrial process system design, with thorough understanding of evaluation, design, and licensing of a new technology, including safety and regulatory policies and applicable codes and standards.
  • Proven and demonstrated experience in the full lifecycle of products from concept to production including system architecture, requirements, design implementation, integration, and verification/validation.
  • Ability to foster an environment that creates new and better ways to be successful.​
  • Capability to effectively guide behaviors and actions of others.​
  • Ability to motivate and guide people to get the job done, and to bring out their best.
  • Inspires and motivates team members to drive the Kairos mission forward in their day-to-day work.
  • Excellent communication/presentation, and interpersonal skills; must be able to interact and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
  • Ability to work with highly collaborative team.
  • Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
  • Prioritizes and ensures safety of one self and others.
  • Ability to proactively collect, manage and transfer knowledge.
  • Ability to seek different and novel ways to create efficiencies when working on problems, challenges and issues.

Physical Conditions

  • Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods.
  • Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
  • Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Conditions 

  • General office environment.
  • Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
  • High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced.

Safety and PPE

  • Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.
  • Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions.

Travel

  • Some travel may be required, up to 25%

Additional Requirements

  • Occasionally requires schedule flexibility.
  • Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines.

The salary range for this position is $220,400 to $275,600 for employees working onsite at our Alameda, CA headquarters. The range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired in California. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role.

#LI-Onsite

About our Benefits

We know that we have some of the most talented and dedicated employees, and we believe in rewarding them accordingly. If you work here, full-time employees (excludes interns) expect to have access to the benefits below:

  • Competitive compensation packages
  • Medical, dental and vision benefits for employees and their dependents
  • Paid Vacation
  • 401(k) and pre-tax health insurance, dependent care, and commuter benefits (FSA)

Kairos Power is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where we do business. Kairos Power is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We actively welcome people of different experiences, abilities, and perspectives.

Kairos Power participates in E-Verify.

Candidates only, no recruiters or agencies please.

Note: You are applying for a position that is located in a facility that handles information that is subject to export control restrictions by the Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. To work in this facility, you need to be authorized by the Department of Energy to access Part 810-controlled information. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that are not on the Department of Energy’s general authorization list (link below) are not permitted to work in our facility unless the Department of Energy issues an export control license to the company to permit that individual to have access to Part 810-controlled information. The following questions are intended to determine the licensing requirements that may apply. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/10/appendix-A_to_part_810

Client-provided location(s): Alameda, CA, USA
Job ID: 5073369004
Employment Type: Other

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Health Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • FSA
    • Health Reimbursement Account
    • HSA
  • Parental Benefits

    • Fertility Benefits
  • Work Flexibility

    • Remote Work Opportunities
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Company Outings
    • Commuter Benefits Program
    • Casual Dress
    • Happy Hours
    • Snacks
    • Some Meals Provided
    • Holiday Events
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Leave of Absence
    • Personal/Sick Days
    • Paid Holidays
    • Paid Vacation
    • Summer Fridays
  • Financial and Retirement

    • Relocation Assistance
    • Company Equity
    • 401(K) With Company Matching
  • Professional Development

    • Learning and Development Stipend
    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
  • Diversity and Inclusion

    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
    • Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
    • Founder led